which feature of earth would reflect the greatest amount of incoming sunlight?
a. ice covered by snow
b. light ocean water
c. sea ice
d. dark ocean water
d. dark ocean water
The feature of Earth that would reflect the greatest amount of incoming sunlight is:
c. Sea ice
Sea ice has a high reflectivity, also known as albedo, which is the ability to reflect sunlight. It reflects a significant portion of the incoming solar radiation back into space. Sea ice appears bright white, and its reflective surface helps to cool the Earth by reducing the amount of solar energy absorbed.
To determine which feature of the Earth would reflect the greatest amount of incoming sunlight, one needs to consider the concept of albedo. Albedo refers to the ability of a surface to reflect light.
In this case, a higher albedo implies a greater reflection of sunlight, while a lower albedo indicates greater absorption of sunlight. Let's analyze each option in terms of their albedo:
a. Ice covered by snow: Ice and snow have high albedo due to their bright white color. They reflect a significant amount of sunlight, making this option a good candidate for reflecting a large amount of incoming sunlight.
b. Light ocean water: Light-colored ocean water, especially in areas with low concentrations of algae or plankton, can reflect a reasonable amount of sunlight due to its relatively high albedo. However, it is not as effective at reflecting sunlight as ice or snow.
c. Sea ice: Sea ice also has a high albedo, similar to snow and ice. As a result, it reflects a significant portion of incoming sunlight, making it a good contender for reflecting a large amount of sunlight.
d. Dark ocean water: Dark-colored ocean water has a lower albedo compared to ice, snow, or light-colored ocean water. This means that it absorbs more sunlight rather than reflecting it, making it less effective in reflecting a significant amount of incoming sunlight.
Based on the analysis of albedo, options a (ice covered by snow) and c (sea ice) have the highest potential for reflecting the greatest amount of incoming sunlight. However, it is important to note that the actual reflectivity can vary based on factors such as the angle of the Sun, cloud cover, and the condition of the surface.